In His Own Words: Nybil attends ADAPT Community Organizing Training

ACI's IL Specialist and Social Rec Coordinator, Nybil Ghanem, recently attended the ADAPT Community Organizer Training in Austin, Texas. Here's what he had to say about his visit...

"I learned a lot through the ADAPT training of Texas this past August, as about 25 others from all across the country, joined us for a weekend of non-stop training on how to advocate as an activist with a disability. Topics discussed were: Negotiation Tactics, Protests, Issues VS. Concerns, Organizer Thinking & People Power. The climax was when we completely shutdown a taco store in protest for not being accessible for people with disabilities as part of our training. What a wonderful training on community organizing."

For more information on ADAPT, please visit adapt.org.

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Brian Mazzarella.

ACI's Social Rec Group attends a Plays in the Park Production of Bye Bye Birdie

This past August, ACI's Social Rec group enjoyed a wonderful Plays in the Park production of Bye Bye Birdie, the classic musical about love and life in a small town in Ohio during the Elvis-era.

For more information on ACI's Social Rec Program, contact Nybil Ghanem at 732-738-4388 ext. 121 or nghanem@adacil.org.

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Social Rec.

Last Chance to Register for the Emergency Preparedness Overnight Exercise!

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE OFTEN BEEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT DURING A DISASTER

On Friday, August 22nd, the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI), Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), FEMA and the American Red Cross will bring together 50 adults with all types of disabilities to spend the night at the Livingston Campus at Rutgers University in a mock overnight emergency shelter experience.

Montgomery HS - Tier 2

Congratulations to the students at Montgomery High School (Somerset County) who completed the Tier 2 course of Its All About Work this summer. Thank you to Beth Conte, Supervisor of the Somerville office of NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, who spoke to the students on services offered by NJDVRS.

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Employment.

ACI Wins $140,000 Grant From Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund

Edison, NJ, July 21, 2014 – The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $140,000 grant from the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The funding will be used to continue the Sandy Recovery Program previously administered by Portlight Strategies. The program provides financial assistance for home accessibility equipment, funding for the replacement of durable medical equipment and supplies, as well as counseling and referral services to disabled residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Portlight Strategies’ Sue Pniewski, will join ACI as the Sandy Recovery Program Project Director and continue her work out of The Visitation Relief Center in Brick, New Jersey.

ACI's Nybil Ghanem accepted into ADAPT Community Organizing Training

Congratulations to our own Nybil Ghanem, who was recently accepted into the ADAPT Community Organizing Training. Nybil will learn about how to work with others to bring about accessibility improvements in our area and while making social changes for people with disabilities. ADAPT is a national grass roots disability right organization that is based in Texas.

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Brian Mazzarella.

Sex Ed Workshops - Knowing Your Body

On July 22nd, ACI hosted Knowing Your Body, the first of three workshops on sexual health. The program is conducted by Melissa Keyes-Digioia, Senior Sexual Health Educator/Trainer with Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey. The second workshop, which focuses on healthy relationships, will take place on August 4th.

Click here for more information and registration >>

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Brian Mazzarella and filed under Health.